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Exclusive interview - Honda’s Jenson Button The past 12 months must have been difficult to swallow for Honda’s Jenson Button. With the RA107’s poor aero performance and lack of stability under braking to contend with, Button scored just six points in 2007, 50 less than his tally from the season before. Over the winter, however, the Japanese squad have been hard at work, and with new team principal Ross Brawn now on board, the British driver is hopeful that it is only a matter of time before all the effort starts to pay off … Q: Jenson, you have been with Honda since 2003 and have seen many people come and go. In the short time he has been in charge, what has Ross Brawn managed to achieve? Jenson Button: The changes that we have made to the team over the last six months were exactly what we needed to take us forward this year and I’m confident that we have the right people, along with great support and resources from Honda, to achieve our targets. Ross arrived quite late in the design process of the RA108 so his focus has been on evaluating every area of the team’s operation to ensure that all the right elements are in place for us to move forward. I’m really enjoying working with Ross and it has been good to have him at the tests as he has so much experience to guide development. Q: Where do you see the Honda team at the moment? JB: We have a lot of work to do in order to achieve our targets and obviously things are not going to happen overnight, however we have some very good people at the team and I have every confidence that we will progress throughout the year. Q: This season will be your sixth spent at Honda. Are you satisfied? JB: I can’t imagine a better team to be working with for my future F1 career. Q: The car manufacturer Honda seems to be very patient when it comes to on-track success. Is the pressure to succeed increasing? JB: The only pressure is the pressure we put on ourselves. We are all committed to building a successful team and the effort and hard work across the team is relentless. Q: The tests have been difficult so far. Can you pinpoint any specific reasons for this? JB: The RA108 is completely new which means we are starting from zero in terms of developing the set-up. We are also working on driveability as we adapt to the new ECU. These challenges were reflected in our speed at our debut test in Barcelona, especially on single fast laps, but our long-run consistency improved. We have a good basic car with new opportunities for aerodynamics and other areas and a clear plan for addressing any issues in the coming tests. Q: Alexander Wurz has joined the team as test driver. When do you expect to see the fruits of his contribution? And in what areas do you think his input will be vital? JB: Alex's feedback is obviously great as he has been in the sport for a long time - in different teams. He brings a lot of experience to the team and he is already making a good contribution. Q: How do you feel about the 2008 car? Do you think you will be able to repeat your 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix victory driving it? JB: We still have some important tests ahead so at this moment any answer would be a pure guess. But I am very confident that the development is moving in the right direction and that results are lurking around the corner. Q: There are only left 30 days until the Melbourne race. What is the team’s most urgent priority? JB: As is the case every year, we will keep pushing hard in the remaining tests to ensure we arrive in Melbourne in the best possible position. Q: What is your prediction for the first three flyaway races? Thumbs-up or thumbs-down? JB: As always I’ll approach the first three races in a positive frame of mind and I’m hoping to see good reliability and improvements as the races progress.

Button sure Honda will make progress Jenson Button is confident that Honda Racing can deliver improved results in 2008 despite an unimpressive start to testing for their new RA108. The new car has failed to set times that are a threat to the front-runners during its initial tests, as the team pin their hopes on the machine erasing the memories of a disastrous 2007 campaign. But despite that lacklustre start, Button believes the team know what they need to do to step up their game - and he thinks the RA108 is heading in the right direction. "The RA108 is completely new which means we are starting from zero in terms of developing the set-up," he told the official Formula One website. "We are also working on driveability as we adapt to the new ECU. "These challenges were reflected in our speed at our debut test in Barcelona, especially on single fast laps, but our long-run consistency improved. We have a good basic car with new opportunities for aerodynamics and other areas and a clear plan for addressing any issues in the coming tests." He added: "We have a lot of work to do in order to achieve our targets and obviously things are not going to happen overnight, however we have some very good people at the team and I have every confidence that we will progress throughout the year." Button has drawn short, however, of making firm predictions about what Honda can achieve this year. "We still have some important tests ahead so at this moment any answer would be a pure guess," he said when asked if a win was on the cards for this year. "But I am very confident that the development is moving in the right direction and that results are lurking around the corner."

Circuito Permanente de Jerez - Spain 13 February 2008 1 M. Webber Red Bull 01:18.628 72 2 N. Rosberg Williams 01:19.091 98 3 K. Nakajima Williams 01:19.215 91 4 F. Alonso Renault 01:19.710 104 5 R. Kubica BMW 01:19.829 116 6 L. Hamilton McLaren 01:19.857 68 7 D. Coulthard Red Bull 01:19.883 97 8 S. Vettel Scuderia Toro Rosso 01:19.889 114 9 N. Piquet jr. Renault 01:20.014 110 10 H. Kovalainen McLaren 01:20.152 84 11 N. Heidfeld BMW 01:20.201 109 12 S. Bourdais Scuderia Toro Rosso 01:20.536 76 13 J. Button Honda 01:21.147 85 14 T. Sato Super Aguri 01:21.376 101 15 R. Barrichello Honda 01:21.710 58 16 A. Sutil Force India F1 01:22.244 86

Circuito Permanente de Jerez - Spain 13 February 2008 1 M. Webber Red Bull 01:18.628 72 2 N. Rosberg Williams 01:19.091 98 3 K. Nakajima Williams 01:19.215 91 4 F. Alonso Renault 01:19.710 104 5 R. Kubica BMW 01:19.829 116 6 L. Hamilton McLaren 01:19.857 68 7 D. Coulthard Red Bull 01:19.883 97 8 S. Vettel Scuderia Toro Rosso 01:19.889 114 9 N. Piquet jr. Renault 01:20.014 110 10 H. Kovalainen McLaren 01:20.152 84 11 N. Heidfeld BMW 01:20.201 109 12 S. Bourdais Scuderia Toro Rosso 01:20.536 76 13 J. Button Honda 01:21.147 85 14 T. Sato Super Aguri 01:21.376 101 15 R. Barrichello Honda 01:21.710 58 16 A. Sutil Force India F1 01:22.244 86

Casillas: I Would Select Raul, Guti For Spain Iker Casillas, the goalkeeper of Real Madrid, affirmed that if it were up to him he would select teammates Raul Gonzalez, and Jose Maria Gutierrez 'Guti' for the Spanish national team. Casillas is very confident in the quality of his teammates at Real Madrid, and stated that if it were up to him he would select both Raul and Guti for the Spanish national team. "I would take Raul (to the national team)," declared Casillas. "I spend time with him everyday. I know how he works and how he is playing. I can be in favour or against the national team coach, but I surely won't start trouble amongst my own team." The Spanish international told the press that he respects Guti, a player who he feels has "matured a great deal over the last two years," and that when he is in good form "Real Madrid are also in good form." "In reference to [Guti's future with] the national team, I feel in the same way as I do about Raul. If I would take Raul to the national team, I would take Guti as well, but the person who decides this is the national team coach," he added. When asked if Luis Aragones could quit the national team before the European Championship, Casillas insisted that at no time did the coach tell him he had that intention in mind. "Personally, I have spoken to him, and in no moment did he tell me that he would leave. I have spoken to the coach and I asked him if he would leave, and the answer was no," he affirmed. In other news, Casillas was pleased that Real Madrid were "having a great season," and making their fans proud. "We have had bad matches, but I think that at the Bernabeu the fans are having a great time, and they are enjoying the way the team are playing."

Ronaldo To Retire In The Summer? :cry2: Forever-injured Rossoneri striker Ronaldo is set to retire from football at the end of the season, according to unconfirmed reports in Milan. The Brazilian has had a nightmare of a season due to injuries, making just one start before Christmas. It seemed that his fitness was improving though when he lined up against Napoli in week 18 and scored two goals in a 5-2 win. He impressed again the following week at Udinese, however then the injuries started to re-appear, and most recently he was forced off at half-time during Sunday’s match with Siena due to physical problems. Ronaldo is definitely out of tomorrow’s clash with Livorno, and he is also a huge doubt for the weekend match with Parma and the Champions League tie with Arsenal in London. The 31-year-old is said to be desperately depressed at continually picking up injuries and is ready to retire from the game altogether in the summer. El Fenomeno’s contract at San Siro runs out in June, and the club is unwilling to offer him a new deal unless he can prove his fitness. This is looking increasingly unlikely, although Ronaldo will have the option to return home and play for Flamengo. As a replacement Milan are considering bringing back Marco Borriello or Nicola Pozzi, who are currently at Genoa and Empoli respectively. Another option is Chelsea’s Didier Drogba.

Circuito Permanente de Jerez - Spain 12 February 2008 1 L. Hamilton McLaren 01:19.102 89 2 P. de la Rosa McLaren 01:19.287 88 3 R. Kubica BMW 01:19.539 91 4 K. Nakajima Williams 01:19.601 93 5 N. Piquet jr. Renault 01:19.660 120 6 N. Heidfeld BMW 01:19.958 94 7 M. Webber Red Bull 01:20.013 113 8 N. Rosberg Williams 01:20.029 125 9 S. Vettel Scuderia Toro Rosso 01:20.105 53 10 D. Coulthard Red Bull 01:20.176 111 11 S. Bourdais Scuderia Toro Rosso 01:20.418 82 12 R. Barrichello Honda 01:21.133 71 13 L. Di Grassi Renault 01:21.200 92 14 T. Sato Super Aguri 01:21.400 90 15 V. Liuzzi Force India F1 01:21.553 103 16 A. Wurz Honda 01:21.950 86

Circuito Permanente de Jerez - Spain 11 February 2008 1 D. Coulthard Red Bull 01:20.641 91 2 M. Webber Red Bull 01:20.807 112 3 K. Nakajima Williams 01:20.834 102 4 N. Rosberg Williams 01:21.096 69

I owe my life to television: Shah Rukh Khan New Delhi, Feb 12 : Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan, who started his career as an actor with TV serial "Fauji", says that whatever he has achieved in life is all because of television. "I started my career with television. I am what I am today because of TV. I owe my life to the small screen and stage," 'King' Khan told IANS. "It is a welcome change to see the way television has evolved over two decades. There is an amazing change in TV programmes both quality-wise and technically. In fact, films and media (print and electronic), everything has changed," he said. "Earlier, when we used to go for press conferences there used to be hardly five cameras. Today the count is more than the fingers on your hands," reminisced the star. He was in the capital Tuesday to promote a new quiz show, "Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain", to be telecast on STAR Plus, which he will host. The show, based on international TV show "Are you Smarter than a Fifth grader?", will have adult participants contesting to win a whopping Rs.50 million. Asked if he himself is smarter than a fifth grader, SRK quipped: "I am not as smart as a fifth class student, otherwise I wouldn't have been an actor." So how was Shah Rukh as a student? "I was very naughty and was nearly suspended once from school but my parents never pushed me very hard. They always said that I must do enough (in studies) so that they are not ashamed. And I did fair in life!" "I remember my teachers said that I have a devil's smile. Every time I played a prank, I used to smile with dimples on my cheeks and they would let me go. But I was punished many, many times." Commenting on whether he would like his son Aryan and daughter Suhana to take part in any reality show, he said: "I don't want that for my children, being Shah Rukh Khan's son and daughter should not become an achievement." "I prey to god and hope when they grow up they achieve something on their own."

Shah Rukh Khan to host yet another game show on TV New Delhi, Feb 12 (PTI) After Kaun Banega Crorepati, Shah Rukh Khan will be back on television hosting what is being dubbed as India's biggest reality game show. The Bollywood superstar will be back on Star Plus to host 'Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain?' a show that will have adult contestants testing their wits with a group of sprightly 10-year-olds. The prize money this time is Rs 5 crore, a Star Group press release said here. Khan had earlier hosted Kaun Banega Crorepati, with a Rs 2 crore prize money, on Star Plus. The release, however, did not mention the start date of the new game show that will be beamed once a week. Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain? is a television game show based on the international Mark Burnett format 'Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?' where grade-school level questions are put to adults from all walks of life, well heeled and confident, who attempt to relive their student days with success. The release said the essence of the show is the test that adults will be put to -- answer primary school questions, the pressure of going back to school and keeping their reputations intact.

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